Bangalore 16 January, 2018 (CCBI): His Excellency Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios Ottathengil (67) Bishop Emeritus of Puthoor Diocese of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is called to eternal rest on Tuesday, 16 January, 2018 at 2.30pm at Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala. Funeral will be held at 2pm on Thursday, 18 January, 2018 St. John’s Cathedral, Thiruvalla, Kerala.

He was born on 1 November 1950 in the ancient Syrian Christian family of Ottathengil to Varghese and Mariamma Varghese at Thalavady near Thiruvalla. After finishing school he started his seminary formation in 1966 at Infant Mary Minor Seminary in the Eparchy of Tiruvalla. In 1970 he was sent to St. Paul’s Seminary at Trichy for Philosophical and Theological studies. Having completed his priestly formation he was ordained a priest on 20 April 1978 by Benedict Mar Gregorios. He was appointed the Rector of the Major Seminary of the Malankara Catholic Church in May 1990, which was in its early stages.

On 18 December 1996 Pope John Paul II appointed Varghese Ottathengil as the Bishop of Bathery, after Cyril Mar Baselios. He was ordained a bishop on 5 February 1996. His sacerdotal Silver Jubilee was celebrated in 2003. He was the Administrator of the Malankara Catholic Church during the short period after the demise of Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos. On 25 January 2010 he was appointed as the first Bishop of the newly erected Eparchy of Puthoor. He resigned at the age of 66 on account of issues of health on 24 January, 2017. He is a priest for 39 years and a bishop for 20 years.